Of the Church’s three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion), Confirmation has undergone the most changes.

The Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist existed in one form or another since the dawn of Christianity. Confirmation, however, has a more convoluted history. Originally, the Holy Spirit was conferred at Baptism with an anointing by the bishop following immersion. In the Eastern portion of Christianity, the post-baptismal rites were presided over by the priest who baptized; but, in the West, those rites were always reserved to the bishop.

Our senses are piqued in many ways at Mass: the sounds of the music and choir, the aroma of the incense, and the images depicted in paintings and stained glass windows. A prominent way that our sense of sight is awakened and helps draw us deeper into the liturgy and its seasons is through the different colors of vestments the priest and deacon wear.

Before the apparition, La Salette was an unknown hamlet lost in one of those giant crevices of the French Alps. Early on September 19, 1846, the two children climb the slopes of the Mount Sous-Les- Baisses, each urging four cows up the mountain. Contrary to their habits, the two children lied down on the grass and fell asleep. The September sun was relaxing and the sky was cloudless. The chattering brook highlighted the mountain stillness. These were quiet moments.

Baptism is the first sacrament a person may receive. It opens the door to the other sacraments and is normally followed by the sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist to complete one’s full initiation into the life of Christ within the Catholic Church. Baptism is so important that in danger of death, the Church allows laity to perform baptism with a simple rite pouring water and saying, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Nurses sometimes do this, but it must be done correctly and with the right intention.

When was the last time you thought about what was most important in your life? It will likely be no surprise that no matter what your state of life the Church strongly suggests that you make God your first priority. But what should be number 2, or number 3, etc.? So many good things compete for our attention. Parents, children, family, spouse, friends, ourselves, strangers in need.

If God is our first priority then what order would He have us place the others?

We do not know any specifics about Jesus’ childhood or the domestic life of the Holy Family. The stories about the young Jesus found in Luke and Matthew are more concerned with the evangelists’ theological themes than with family life. Luke wanting to show the family as devout Jews with the stories of Jesus’ circumcision, Mary’s purification, and the family traveling to Jerusalem for Passover. Matthew wanting to show the universality of salvation with the story of the Magi, and Jesus as the new Moses with the flight to Egypt and the slaughter of the innocents.

On this fourth and last Sunday of advent before the great celebration of Christmas, we light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath called “Angel’s Candle”. This reminds us of the angels message that Jesus came to bring peace to our hearts and to our world.

Yes, after living through some tough times of the Corona virus pandemic, with fear, anxiety and uncertainties, it is another God’s acceptable time to trust deeper in Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace and the source of true peace.

Most people think of Advent as the “Christmas Season,” but that really does not properly describe this time of preparation. As Catholics, the scriptures at Mass and all the prayers we use, draw our attention to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of our lives. It is only when we get close to the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord that that we see a transition in both the scriptures and the prayers of Mass and other official prayers of the season to focus on the First Coming of Christ to dwell with us.

Incense has become a polarizing topic in the Church. Some love it, some hate it, very few are indifferent. But why do we use incense during Mass and why have we for centuries?

The use of incense in the liturgy is an important element for liturgical, theological, and historical reasons.

Advent is the first season in the Liturgical Year. Each liturgical year uses a different set of lectionary readings from Sacred Scripture. We now start using Year C on Sundays and Year II on weekdays. By using the three years (ABC) on Sundays and two years (I & II) on weekdays, the Catholic Church celebrates and presents a huge amount of the Bible to Christians for reflection and worship.

The Church uses two main books to celebrate Liturgy: the Roman Missal and the Lectionary. The Roman Missal contains the prayers, rituals, and gestures used for Masses on Sundays, weekdays, and Holy Days. The Lectionary is the set of Scripture readings proclaimed at each Mass.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix granted my request for a second parochial vicar. Father Jacob's new assignment is effective November 1, 2021.